Award citations

Below are excerpts from the 2018 Alumni Awards citations:

Alumni Christian Service Award

Jake ’58 and Nancy Shenk met at Messiah College and married in 1956. Jake obtained a bachelor’s degree in Bible knowledge and a teacher’s certificate in science while Nancy attended Messiah for two years.

Partnering with BIC U.S. World Missions, the Shenks served in Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia) from 1958 to 1976, with two furloughs in between. Jake served in many capacities: teacher, pastor/preacher, administrator, farm manager and author. In 1970, Jake wrote a Ndebele grammar book, which has become a leading resource for Zimbabweans today. From 1972 to 1976, he prepared 27 Bible and Bible-related courses in Ndebele while organizing and operating the Zimbabwean Theological Education by Extension (TEE) program. Nancy typed all the stencils and put together the TEE booklets.

Due to war in the country, Jake and Nancy did not return to Zimbabwe after their 1977 furlough. During this time, they studied missiology for one year at Fuller School of World Mission. They then returned to Pennsylvania, where Jake became the youth director at Mount Pleasant BIC.

In 1983, at the invitation of the Zimbabwean BIC Church, Jake and Nancy returned to Zimbabwe. There, Jake served as a treasurer (financial secretary) for the next eight years, while also pastoring the Mpopoma Church and managing the Wanezi Farm. Nancy became the purchasing manager at the Matopo Book Centre.

In 1991, Jake was chosen as overseer for the 51 churches in the Mtshabezi District. During that time, he continued to manage the Mtshabezi farm and served as the assistant chairman of general conference, as well as coordinator for mission personnel. Between 1994 and 1999, Jake served as bishop of the BIC Church in Zimbabwe. Through this time, Nancy was responsible for the women’s work in the Church.

The Shenks are based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Jake assists the church in Zimbabwe with its leadership training programs and its agricultural projects. In addition, he serves in interdenominational ministries as chairman of the board of trustees of the Theological College of Zimbabwe. In each of these roles, Nancy serves in a supportive role and provides secretarial expertise.

Alumni Appreciation Award

Dean C. Curry, an integral part of the faculty and leadership of Messiah College for 38 years has exhibited genuine commitment to this institution, its students and its faculty and staff. He has assumed various leadership roles, including serving as the Chair of the Department of History and Political Science for 16 years and as the Director of the College Honors Program since its inception in 1998.  He has served on the Academic Policies Committee, the Faculty Mentor Program and the Chair of the Community of Educators.

Most significantly, he has impacted generations of students. He feels a sincere responsibility to not only model his faith with his students, but to also help them understand that their education is ultimately about preparing them to be co-laborers with God in redeeming the brokenness of this world.  One alumna, the Honorable Jennifer J.P. Clancy, says he has positively impacted countless students in the classroom and as an academic advisor. She says he is a man of integrity and wisdom, demonstrating servant leadership and genuine Christ-like care for others.

Likewise, his colleagues offer their genuine respect and admiration. James B. LaGrand, professor of American history, emphasizes Curry’s attentiveness to students. “For [students] looking to get involved in politics or international relations,” said LaGrand, “Dean’s Rolodex is second to none. But he has also devoted countless hours to talking with students about the challenges of living the Christian life. Few people have such a wealth of professional capital as well as a gentle spirit.”

Ted Prescott, who taught alongside Curry for 29 years, calls him an exemplary teacher, whose students love him for his obvious care for them and his rigorous academic expectations. He adds that these traits were foundational to Curry’s success in developing the College’s honors program, which today thrives with more than 400 students from majors in all of the College’s four schools.

Distinguished Alumnus Achievement Award

Peter K. Greer ’97, president and CEO of HOPE International, has traveled many literal and figurative miles since graduation, yet he has not forgotten the role Messiah College has played in his life.

Messiah was where you met his wife Laurel and formed many lifelong friendships. On Shoemaker Field, he learned about grit, determination and the powerful benefits of teamwork. In Frey Hall, he first realized that jobs could be used to combat global poverty. There, a spark was lit that fanned into a passion to make a difference in the world.

Through the years, he has pursued vocational opportunities focusing on alleviating poverty by generating solutions with generational impact — person by person, family by family, community by community.

Since 2004, he has served as the president and CEO of HOPE International, an organization working to restore dignity and break the cycle of poverty in the world’s underserved communities. During his tenure, the organization has grown from serving 3,000 individuals in three countries to working with more than 900,000 individuals in 15 countries.

Jesse Casler, his colleague at HOPE International, said, “I can say with absolute confidence that Peter is of the highest character and is an exemplary leader. He has a unique combination of wisdom and humility, leadership and service.”

His friend, Mark Heath, added, “I have witnessed how the power of the Gospel is the driving force in all that Peter does — whether in alleviating poverty all over the world or being a personal confidant and mentor. Peter is a wonderful example of how Messiah develops young people and sends them out into the world to exemplify what it means to show the love of Christ.”

Since 2015, he has continued to invest in the Messiah College community by serving as the Entrepreneur in Residence: teaching a global entrepreneurship class, assisting in the creation of the Impact Venture Challenge and providing one-on-one mentoring to students. This represents just a fraction of the difference he is making in the lives of others.

Young Alumnus Achievement Award

In the 15 years since graduating from college, Levi Landis ’03 remembers his Messiah experience as a time of developing connections — connection with God and the eternal, with mentors and lifelong friends, and reconnection with his wife, Hannah.

His desire for connection has been a current coursing through the waters of his life, personally and professionally. His ministry and vocational pursuits have focused on using the arts to connect people with their internal giftings, with one another and with the greater community. While still at Messiah, he founded Emmaus, Inc., in Gettysburg, which served young people and families through a performing arts hall, school of music, bowling alley, art space, recording studio and more.

For seven years, he served as the executive director of the Philadelphia Folksong Community, followed by several years as the COO for the Center for Art in Wood, an organization recognized internationally as a valuable resource in its field. In 2014, he founded Philadelphia-based Floating Festivals, an interactive event organization dedicated to producing high-quality festivals and cultural programs that celebrate and engage communities.

Since 2016, he has served as the executive director and president of GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, the largest interactive arts center in the U.S. In his time there, he has raised $1.5 million in new annual revenue, launched 11 new programs and guided the organization to achieve financial sustainability for the first time.

His passion for life is evident whether he is using his giftedness to lead a nonprofit, volunteer in the community, engage others with the creative arts or celebrate family life.